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Developer seeks parking variance for Lancaster Avenue building; decision deferred
Summary
MJ Ryder Associates asked the Reading Zoning Hearing Board to waive off‑street parking requirements to convert a Lancaster Avenue building to laboratory/office use, saying the site provides about 30 on‑site spaces and 15 off‑site spaces but cannot reach the ordinance’s required 65 spaces. The board closed testimony and will issue a decision next month.
MJ Ryder Associates asked the Reading Zoning Hearing Board on Dec. 10 for relief from the city’s parking rules to reuse a vacant building on Lancaster Avenue as a laboratory and office.
Counsel Chris Muddy told the board the property, in the CH Commercial Highway district, requires 65 off‑street parking spaces under the zoning ordinance but is landlocked and can provide only about 30 spaces on site plus roughly 15 more in a separate lot across Angelica Street. "Given the size of this building ... it requires 65 parking spaces. We can provide 30," Muddy said, adding the applicant has an off‑site agreement with Bimbo Bakeries for about 20 spaces.
Amanda Helinek (spelled in the record), who testified for the applicant, confirmed the site configuration and historical uses. She said one floor had previously been used as a school with bus traffic and that MJ Ryder would employ roughly 20–30 people at the Lancaster Avenue location. On cross‑examination the board and zoning staff confirmed parking‑lot lighting and other code requirements may need attention if the board grants relief.
No members of the public spoke for or against the application at the hearing. The board closed the record and said it would issue a written decision at next month’s meeting; the applicant need not be present to receive the mailed decision.
Why it matters: If the board grants a variance, the company could proceed with adaptive reuse without constructing new parking on the site, a common issue in older, landlocked commercial corridors. If denied, the developer may need to reconfigure the proposal or seek additional off‑site parking arrangements.
The board’s decision will be mailed to the applicant when issued.
